Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Original Edition | Liberty - Chapter 6

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books Presents Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet beecher Stowe,
Chapter six Discovery. Mister and Missus Shelby, after their protracted
discussion of the night before, did not readily sink to repose,
and in consequence, slept somewhat later than usual the ensuing morning.

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I wonder what keeps Eliza, said Missus Shelby, after giving
her bell repeated pulls to no purpose. Mister Shelby was
standing before his dressing glass, sharpening his razor, and just
then the door opened and a colored boy entered with
his shaving water. Andy said his mistress, step to Eliza's
door and tell her I have run for her three times.

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Poor thing, she added to herself with a sigh. Andy
soon returned with eyes very wide in astonishment. Lor missus
Lizzie's drawers all open and her things all lie every
which way, and I believe she's done clared out. The
truth flashed upon mister Shelby and his wife at the
same moment. He exclaimed, Then she suspected it and she's off.

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The Lord be thanked, said Missus Shelby. I trust she
is wife. You talk like a fool. Really, it will
be something pretty awkward for me if she is Hailey
saw that I hesitated about selling this child, and he'll
think I connived at it to get him out of
the way. It touches my honor. And mister Shelby left
the room hastily. There was great running and ejaculating, and

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opening and shutting of doors, and appearance of faces in
all shades of color in different places for about a
quarter of an hour. One person only who might have
shed some light on the matter was entirely silent, and
that was the head cook, Aunt Chloe. Silently, and with
a heavy cloud settled down over her once joyous face.
She proceeded making out her breakfast biscuits as if she

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heard and saw nothing of the excitement around her. Very
soon about a dozen young imps were roosting like so
many crows on the veranda railings, each one determined to
be the first one to apply the strange master of
his ill luck. He'll be raw mad, I'll be bound,
said Andy, won't he swar, said little black Jake. Yes,

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for he does swar, said wooly headed Mandy. And I
hearn him yesterday at dinner. I hearn em all about it,
cause I got it into closet where missus keeps the
great jugs, and I hearn every word. And Mandy, who
had never in her life thought of the meaning of
a word she had heard more than a black cat,
now took airs of superior wisdom and strutted about forgetting

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to state that, though actually coiled up among the jugs
at the time specified, she had been fast asleep all
the time. When at last Haley appeared, hooted and spurred,
he was saluted with the bad tidings on every hand.
The young imps on the verandah were not disappointed in
their hope of hearing him swar, which he did with

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affluency and fervency, which delighted them all amazingly, as they
ducked and dodged hither and thither to be out of
the reach of his riding whip, and all whooping off
together they tumbled in a pile of immeasurable giggle on
the withered turf under the veranda, where they kicked up
their heels and shouted to their full satisfaction. If I
had the little devils, muttered Haley between his teeth. But

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you hain't got them, though, said Andy, with a triumphant,
flourish and making a string of indescribable mouths at the
unfortunate trader's back when he was fairly beyond hearing. I say, now, Shelby,
this yere's a most extraordinary business, said Haley, as he
abruptly entered the parlor. It seems that Gal's off with
her young un mister Haley. Missus Shelby is present, said

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mister Shelby. I beg pardon, ma'am, said Haley, bowing slightly
with a still lowering brow. But still I say, as
I said before, this year's a singular report. Is it true, sir, Sir,
said mister Shelby, If you wish to communicate with me,
you must observe something of the decorum of a gentleman.
Andy take mister Haley's hat and riding whip. Take a seat, sir, Yes, sir,

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I regret to say that the young woman, excited by
overhearing or having reported to her something of this business,
has taken her child in the night and made off.
I did expect fair delon in this matter, I confess,
said Haley. Well, sir, said mister Shelby, turning sharply round
upon him. What am I to understand by that remark?

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If any man calls my honor in question, I have
but one answer for him. The trader cowered at this, and,
in a somewhat lower tone, said that it was plaguey
hard on a fellow that had made a fair bargain
to be engulled that way. Mister Haley said, mister Shelby,
if I did not think you had some cause for disappointment,
I should not have borne from you the rude and

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unceremonious style of your entrance into my parlor this morning.
I say thus much, However, since appearances called for it,
that I shall allow of no insinuations cast upon me
as if I were at all partner to any unfairness
in this matter. Moreover, I shall feel bound to give
you every every assistance in the use of horses, servants,
et cetera, in the recovery of your property. So, in short,

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Haley said, he suddenly dropping from the tone of dignified
coolness to his ordinary one of easy frankness. The best
way for you is to keep good natured and eat
some breakfast, and we will then see what is to
be done. Missus. Shelby now rose and said her engagements
would prevent her being at the breakfast table that morning,
and deputing a very respectable Mulatto woman to attend to

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the gentleman's coffee at the sideboard, she left the room.
Oh lady, don't like your humble servant over and above,
said Haley, with an uneasy effort to be very familiar.
I am not accustomed to hear my wife's spoken of
with such freedom, said mister Shelby, dryly beg pardon, of course,
only a joke, you know, said Haley, forcing a laugh.

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Some jokes are less agreeable than others, rejoined Shelby. Devilish free.
Now I've signed those papers, cuss him, muttered Haley to himself.
Quite great, since yesterday never did fall of any Prime
minister at court occasion wider surges of sensation than the
report of Tom's fate among his compeers on the place.

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It was the topic in every mouth everywhere, and nothing
was done in the house or in the field but
to discuss its probable results. Eliza's flight, an unprecedented event
on the place, was also a great accessory in stimulating
the general excitement. Black Sam, as he was commonly called
from his being about three shades blacker than any other

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son of Ebony on the place, was revolving the matter
profoundly in all its phases and bearings, with a comprehensiveness
of vision and a strict lookout to his own personal
well being that would have done credit to any white
patriot in Washington. It's an ill wind that blown nowhere.
That are fact, said Sam, sententiously giving an additional hoist

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to his pantaloons and adroitly substituting a long nail in
place of a missing Societ spender button, with which effort
of mechanical genius he seemed highly delighted. Nurse, it's an
ill wind blows no war, he repeated. Now, Dar Tom's down,
while horse Star's room for some nigger to be up?

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And why not this nigger? That's the idee Tom ridin
round the country, boots Blacked, passing his pocket, all grand
as cuffey. But who heap? Now? Why shouldn't Sam? That's
what I wanna know? Halloo, Sam oh, Sam, Mass's wants
you to coach Bill and Jerry, said Andy, cutting short

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Sam's soliloquy, Hi, what's the foot now, yun? Why you
don't know? I suppose that Lizzie's cut stick and clared
out with her young un. You teach your grannie, said
Sam with infinite contempt. No, did a heap sight sooner
you did this? Nigger hain't so green? Now? Well, anyhow,
Massa wants Bill and Jerry geared right up, and you
and ies to go with Massa Haley to look we

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are to her good. Now that's the time o day,
said Sam. It's Sam that's called for her in easier times.
He's the nigga. See if I don't caught yer now
Massr's see what Sam can do. Ah, But Sam said Andy,
you'd better think twice for missus. Don't want her cotched,
and she'll be in your wool, Hi, said Sam, opening

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his eyes. How you know that? Heard her say? So
my own self, dis blessed mornin when I bring in
Marsr's shaving water. She sent me to see why Lizzie
didn't come to dress her. And when I telled her
she was off, she just rasts up and says she
the Lord be praised. And Massa he seemed rail mad
and says he wife, you talk like a fool. But
lor she'll bring him too. I knows well enough how

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that'll be. It's all hers best to stand missus side fence, now,
I tell yer Black Sam upon this scratched his wooly pate, which,
if it did not contain very profound wisdom, still contained
a great deal of a particular species, much in demand
among politicians of all complexions and countries, and vulgarly denominated
knowing which side the bread is buttered. So, stopping with

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grave consideration, he again gave a hitch to his pantaloons,
which was his regularly organized method of assisting his mental perplexities. Dear,
ain't no saying, never bout no kind o thing in
this your world, he said. At last, Sam spoke like
a philosopher, emphasizing this as if he had had a
large experience in different sorts of worlds and therefore had

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come to his conclusions advisedly. Now, certain I'd have said
that missus would have scored the varsal world after, Lizzie,
added Sam. Thoughtfully, so she would, said Andy, But can't
you see through the ladder, you black nigger. Missus don't
want this your masses Hayley to get Lizzy's boy. That's
to go, hi, said Sam, with an indescribable intonation known

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only to those who have heard it among the negroes.
I'll tell you more, and all, said Andy, I specs,
you'd better be makin tracks for dem horses. Mighty sudden
two for I hear missus quirn aardier. So you stood
foon long enough. Sam upon this began to bestir himself
in real earnest, and after a while appeared bearing down
gloriously toward the house, with Bill and Jerry in full canter,

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and adjointly throwing himself off. Before they had had any
idea of stopping, he brought them up alongside of the
horse post like a tornado. Haley's horse, which was a
skittish young colt, winced and bounced and pulled hard at
his halter. Ho ho, said Sam, skeary, are you, and
his black visage lighted up with a curious, mischievous gleam.
I'll fix you now, said he. There was a large

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beech tree overshadowing the place, and the small, sharp triangular
beech nuts lay scattered thickly on the ground. With one
of these in his fingers, Sam approached the colt, stroked
and padded, and seemed apparently busy in soothing his agitation.
On pretense of adjusting the saddle, he adroitly slipped under
the sharp little nut in such a manner that the
least weight brought upon the saddle would annoy the nervous

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sensibilities of the animal without leaving any perceptible graze or wound. Dir,
he said, rolling his eyes with an approving grin, Me
fix em. At this moment, Missus Shelby appeared on the balcony,
beckoning to him. Sam approached with as good a determination
to pay court as did ever suit her after a
vacant place at Saint James or Washington. Why have you

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been loitering so Sam? I sent Andy to tell you
to hurry, Lord bless you, missus, said Sam. Horses won't
be cotched all in a minute. They'd done clared out
way down to the south pasture. And the Lord knows
why Sam? How often must I tell you not to say,
Lord bless you? And the Lord knows? And such things?
It's wicked, Oh Lord, bless my soul. I done forgot, missus.

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I won't say nothing of the sort no more. Why Sam?
You just have said it again? Did I? Oh? Lord?
I mean I I I didn't go for to say it.
You must be careful, Sam. Just let me get my breath, missus,
and I'll start fair. I'll be bare very careful. Well, Sam,
you are to go with mister Haley to show him
the road and help him be careful to the horses. Sam,

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you know Jerry was a little lame last week. Don't
ride them too fast, missus. Shelby spoke the last words
with a low voice and strong emphasis. Let this child
alone for that, said Sam, rolling up his eye with
a volume of meaning. Lord knows, I didn't I say that,
said He, suddenly catching his breath with a ludicrous flourish

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of apprehension, which made his mistress laugh by herself. Yes, missus,
I'll look out for the horses now, Andy, said Sam,
returning to his stand under the beech trees. You see,
I wouldn't be tall surprised if that our gentleman critter
should give a fling by and by when he comes
to be gettin up. You know, Andy, gritters will do
such things. And therewith Sam poked Andy in the side

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in a highly suggestive manner. Hi, said Andy with an
air of instant appreciation. Yes, you see, Andy, missus wants
to make time dead our declared to their most ardenerr observer.
I just make a little for her now, you see,
Get all these dare horses loose, carpurn promiscus round this

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yar lot and down to the wood dar, and I
spect masserl won't be off in a hurry. Andy grinned,
you see, said Sam. You see, Andy, if any such
thing should happen as that Masser Haley's horse should begin
to act contrary and cut up, you and I just
let's go learn to help him, and we'll help him.
Oh yes, And Sam and Andy laid their heads back

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on their shoulders and broke into a low, immoderate laugh,
snapping their fingers and flourishing their heels with exquisite delight.
At this instant, Haley appeared on the veranda, somewhat mollified
by certain cups of very good coffee. He came out,
smiling and talking in tolerably restored humor. Sam and Andy,
clawing for certain fragmentary palm leaves, which they were in

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the habit of considering his hats, flew to the horse
posts to be ready to help Masser Sam's palm leaf
had been ingeniously disentangled from all pretensions to braid as
respects its brim, and the slivers, starting apart and standing upright,
gave it a blazing air of freedom and defiance quite
equal to that of any Fiji chief. While the whole

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brim of Andy's being departed bodily, he wrapped the crown
on his head with a dexterous thump and looked about
well pleased, as if to say, who says I haven't
got hat? Well, boys, said Haley, look alive. Now we
must lose no time. Not a bit of him, masser
said Sam, putting Haley's rein in his hand and holding

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his stirrup. While Andy was untying the other two horses.
The instant Haley touched the saddle, the mettlesome creature bounded
from the earth with a sudden spring that threw his
master sprawling some feet off on the soft, dry turf. Sam,
with frantic ejaculations, made a dive at the reins, but
only succeeded in brushing the blazing palm leaf afoorenamed into
the rus's eyes, which by no means tended to allay

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the confusion of his nerves. So with great vehemence he
overturned Sam and, giving two or three contemptuous snorts, flourished
his heels vigorously in the air, and was soon prancing
away towards the lower end of the lawn, followed by
Bill and Jerry, whom Andy had not failed to let
loose according to contract, speeding them off with various direful ejaculations,

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and now ensued a miscellaneous scene of confusion. Sam and
Andy ran and shouted, dogs barked here and there, and Mike, Mose, Mandy, Fanny,
and all the smaller specimens on the place, both male
and female raced, clapped hands, whooped, and shouted with outrageous
officiousness and untiring zeal. Hailey's horse, which was a white

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one and very fleet and spirited, appeared to enter into
the spirit of the scene with great gusto, and, having
for his coursing ground a lawn of nearly half a
mile in extent, gently sloping down on every side into
indefinite woodland, he appeared to take infinite delight in seeing
how near he could allow his pursuers to approach him,

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and then, when within a hand's breadth, whisk off with
a start and a snort, like a mischievous beast as
he was, and career far down into some alley of
the woodlot. Nothing was further from Sam's mind than to
have any one of the troops taken until such season
as should seem to him most befitting, and the exertions
that he made were certainly most heroic, Like the sword

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of Coeur de Leon, which always blazed in the front
and thickest of the battle. Sam's palm leaf was to
be seen everywhere. When there was the least danger that
a horse could be caught there he would bear down
full tilt, shouting now for it, cotchaim, cottum, in a
way that would set everything to indiscriminate route. In a moment,
Hayley ran up and down and cursed, and swore and

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stamped miscellaneously. Mister Shelby in vain tried to shout directions
from the balcony, and Missus Shelby from her chamber window
alternately laughed and wondered, not without some inkling of what
lay at the bottom of all this confusion. At last,
about twelve o'clock, Sam appeared, triumphant, mounted on Jerry, with
Haley's horse by his side, reeking with sweat, but with

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flashing eyes and dilated nostrils, showing that the spirit of
freedom had not yet entirely subsided. He's cotched, he exclaimed triumphantly.
If it hadn't been for me, they might have bust
themselves all on em. But I cotched em, you growled Haley,
in a no amiable mood. If it hadn't been for you,
this never would have happened. Lord, bless us, Masses, said

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Sam in a tone of the deepest concern. And me
that has been racin and chastened till the sweat just
pours off me. Well, well, said Haley. You've lost me
near three hours with your cursed nonsense. Now let's be
off and have no more foolin'. Why, Masses, said Sam
in a deprecating tone. I believe you mean to kill us,
all Claire horses and all here. We are all just

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ready to drop down, and and a critter is all
in a reek of sweat. Why a er massr won't
think us starting on now till our to dinner. MASSA
hoss wants rubbin down. See how he splashed himself, and
Jerry limps too. Don't think missus would be willing to
have us start this sairy way. Nohow, Lord, bless you master.
We can catch up if we do stop. Lizzie never

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was no great of a walker. Missus Shelby, who greatly,
to her amusement, had overheard this conversation from the veranda,
now resolved to do her part, she came forward and, courteously,
expressing her concern for Haley's accident, pressed him to stay
to dinner, saying that the cook should bring it on
the table immediately. Thus, all things considered, Haley, with rather

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an equivocal grace, proceeded to the parlor, while Sam, rolling
his eyes after him with unutterable meaning, proceeded gravely with
the horses to the stable yard. Did you see him, andy?
Did Yer see him? Said Sam, when he had got
fairly beyond the shelter of the barn and fastened the
horse to a post. Oh Lord, if it wasn't as
good as a meetin now to see him a dancin

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and kickin and swirin at us? Didn't I hear him?
Swar away? Old fellow, says I to myself. Will Yer
have your hoss now? Or wait till you caught him?
Says I lor, Andy, I think I can see him now.
And Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn and
laughed to their hearts content. Youer ought a scene how
mad he looked when I brought his horse up. Lord,
he'd killed me if he durst too. And there was

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a standin as innocent and as humble, lor I seed you, said, Andy,
ain't you an old hoss? Sam rare specs, I am,
said Sam. Did you see missus upstairs at the window?
I seed her laughin'. I'm sure I was racin so
I didn't see nothin, said Andy. Well you see, said Sam,
proceeding gravely to wash down Haley's pony. I's quired what

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yer may call a habit of observation. Andy. It's a
very portent habit, Andy, and I command you to be
cultivating it. And now you're young. I stepped that hind foot, Andy.
You see, Andy, it's observation makes all difference in the
is Didn't I see which way the wind blew this
year mornin'? Didn't I see what mis wanted? Though she

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never let on that ours observation, Andy, I suspects it's
what you may call a faculty faculties is different in
different people's but its cultivation on 'em goes a great way.
I guess if I hadn't helped your b observation this mornin',
you wouldn't have seen your way so smart, said Andy.
Andy said, Sam, you's a promisin child. There hain't no

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matter of doubt. I thinks lots of your Andy, and
I don't feel no ways ashamed to take ideas from you.
We oughtn't to overlook nobody, Andy, cause the smarter oz
gets tripped up sometimes. And so Andy, let's go up
to the house now. I'll be bound. Miss'll keep us
an uncommon good bite this year time. End of chapter six.

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